WINE AND CHEESE EVENT

Effective Team Building: Strategies For Creating or Joining a Winning Project Team

Professional Development Workshop: Mind/Body/Sole Series  

Join our panel of clients and consultants as they share information on how to assemble a team through targeted relationship building, effective research and evaluation, and creative positioning.

PANEL:

Ann Dumas-Swanson (Moderator)
Senior Manager, Health + Science Business Development
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Ruth Shragowitz
Project Director
Columbia University

Andrew E. Conner

Principal
Tribeca Associates, LLC

Christey Robinson
Director of Business Development
Davis Brody Bond Aedas

Lisa Deneau
Director of Business Development & Marketing
Robert Silman Associates

Kimberlee Toscano
Partner
Toscano Clements Taylor

Four things you’ll walk away with after attending this program:

   1. How to do the research needed to find the right teaming partners. How to vet team members that will give your firm the best chance of winning projects and how to steer clear of those that may jeopardize your team

   2. An understanding of the team building process (establishing a criteria for who is needed for the project, what makes a team member the right fit, who has a track record with the client)

   3. What is the client looking for? Successful strategies that will make your team stand out. 

   4. Tips on how to form a relationship with a firm you’ve never worked with before. What are the first steps needed to establish a track record to become the “go-to” firm?

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MODERATOR

Ann Dumas-Swanson
Senior Manager, Health + Science Business Development
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Ann Dumas-Swanson has represented Skidmore Owings & Merrill’s health and science practice for nearly 10 years. Her responsibilities include providing strategic marketing direction, conducting competitive research activities, assembling teams, and working with the partnership to cultivate new business relationships.

Prior to SOM, she spent six years at Perkins + Will as a business development representative in the firm’s Chicago and New York offices. In that role Ann supported the higher education and K-12 markets.  She was named an associate of the firm in 1995. Before that, she was director of marketing at Florian-Wierzbowski Architecture in Chicago.  Ann began her career in marketing design services at Holabird & Root, also in  Chicago.

She is a graduate of St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame and has a master’s degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City.  She lives with her husband and son in Pelham, New York.

PANELISTS

NEW!

NEW!
Ruth Shragowitz
Project Director
Columbia University

Ruth Shragowitz has over 20 years of experience and is currently a Project Director at Columbia University. She has an established track record of delivering projects on time and on budget and conceptualizing solutions to project obstacles. Ruth's responsibilities include directing award winning projects from inception to turnover; managing large teams of consultants; preparing and tracking complicated multi-phased budgets, schedules, and cash flows; maintaining excellent community relations for the University; ensuring standards of excellence in construction quality of projects; and training and mentoring junior staff. Recently completed and current Columbia projects include the New Campbell Sports Center, 615 West 131st Street conversion of an historic building into administrative offices, Alfred Lerner Hall Student Center, The Picker Center, the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, and the Language Resource Center. Ruth has her Bachelor of Science in Art and Design from MIT and her Masters of Architecture from the University of California, Berkley. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and has her NY State Real Estate Broker's License. Previous experience includes Director of Development & Commercial Leasing at David Frankel Realty, Inc., Development Officer at American Landmarks Development, Inc., Assistant Project Manager at MBT Associates, Inc. in San Francisco, and Junior Designer at RTKL in Baltimore, MD.

Andrew E. Conner

Principal
Tribeca Associates, LLC

Drew Conner is currently a principal with Tribeca Associates, LLC. His 20-year career has included broad-based experience and leadership roles, including Principal-level commercial development; Institutional-level acquisition, leasing & asset management; and extensive transactional experience in New York City and nationally.

At Tribeca Associates, Drew’s responsibilities include deal sourcing, business development, project team selection, project executive, contractual engagements, project budgeting & financial analysis, loan requisition and balancing, insurance & risk management, leasing and other matters. Representative projects include Smyth Hotel (85 West Broadway), an award-winning 100-key hotel and condominium project in Tribeca; The Artisan Lofts (143 Reade Street), an 115,000 sf condominium conversion in Tribeca; and 330 Hudson Street, a 400,000 sf commercial office renovation/hotel development conversion in Hudson Square.

His past experience also includes Boston Properties, Inc., where he was Vice President, Forest City Ratner Companies, and Edward S. Gordon Company. Drew received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas and a M.Sc. in Real Estate and Development from NYU. He is Executive Vice President for the Board of Literacy Partners, Inc., and is a guest lecturer and speaker at Columbia University, NYU, Commercial Property World, and Commercial Property News forums.

Christey Robinson has served as Davis Brody Bond Aedas’ Director of Business Development since 2000. In that role, she collaborates with the firm’s five partners to establish the firm’s business development strategies in the firm’s core market areas. She also establishes relationships with potential sub-consultants and works with the partners to develop comprehensive project teams. Ms. Robinson serves as the business development link to the firm’s global partner, Aedas, in the pursuit of projects worldwide. Ms. Robinson directs the firm’s marketing/communications and graphic departments which are responsible for all promotional efforts. Prior to joining Davis Brody Bond Aedas, she worked for Arup, Buttrick White & Burtis and Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott. Christey received a Bachelor of Arts in Art/Architectural History from Boston University. In addition to being an SMPS member, she has also been a member of the AIA New York Chapter Marketing Committee.

Kimberlee Toscano
Partner
Toscano Clements Taylor

Ms. Toscano is a founding Partner and Managing Principal of Toscano Clements Taylor, a W/DBE Cost Estimating, Project Controls and Owner’s Representative firm with offices in Huntington NY, Princeton NJ, Washington D.C. and Albany NY.  With the strategic placement of these offices, TCT is able to service a growing client base of world renowned architects, engineers and developers both domestically and internationally.  The firm has most recently worked on some of the world’s most celebrated projects including the new $2.3 billion Meadowlands Xanadu Entertainment Complex and the $1.3 billion Jacob Javit’s Convention Center Expansion and Renovation in New York City which is still underway.

Kim’s A/E/C industry experience spans the breadth of marketing and business development disciplines for over ten years. Through her focus on client service, commitment and recruitment of some of the world’s leading experts in cost consulting, Kim has contributed to the success of many landmark facilities around the globe. In 2007, Kim and her two partners – both Chartered Quantity Surveyors - joined forces and established Toscano Clements Taylor. Her direct responsibilities include overseeing the financial management of the firm, business development, strategic planning, human resource management, proposal development and overall administrative management. Prior to launching TCT, Kim was a Managing partner for eight years at a LI based Cost Estimating firm.

Kim is very highly regarded in the industry as a source of valuable information, knowledge and industry connections.  Ms. Toscano has been an active SMPS member of the NY Chapter since 1999 and has held a Board position {2001-2003} including Director of Programs. She was most recently recognized as Client of the Year by the Jamaica Business Resource Center and has been a moderator and panelist on a number of industry panels. 

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